Medallion clasp



July 26, 1966 H. F. STOFFEL 3,262,223

MEDALLION CLASP Filed Jan. 5. 1964 COMPANY C0. STREET INVENTOR H. F. STOFFEL ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,262,223 MEDALLION CLASP Hans F. Stoifel, Tuckahoe, N.Y., assignor to Stoifel Seals Corporation, Tuckahoe, N.Y. Filed Jan. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 335,492 6 Claims. (Cl. 401.5)

This invention relates to ornamentation and display and more particularly to badges adapted to be worn on the person for purposes such as identification.

At meetings such as conventions it is customary to provide those attending with badges by means of which the wearers may be identified for purposes of admission and to become known to each other.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a badge that is relatively simple, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use and which does not damage clothing.

A further object is the provision of a badge having a retainer thereon in which an identification card may be easily mounted but from which it may not be removed and another substituted without detection.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a badge in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2, a rear view with the card removed;

FIG. 3, a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a detail on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5, a view similar to FIG. 4, of a modification of the catch;

FIG. 6, a detail of a modified pin mounting block;

FIG. 7, a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8, a rear view of a badge and showing a card holder in open position;

FIG. 9, a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the card holder closed;

FIG. 10, a section on the line 10-10 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11, a section on the line 1111 of FIG. 9.

Briefly stated the invention includes a badge with a main portion formed of a resilient plastic and having a pair of spaced projections on its rear face, one of said projections mounting an end of a relatively thin needle, the other projection providing a catch for the point of the needle, the needle mounting normally positioning the point above the catch, the badge having a card holder integrally mounted on its back, the card holder having card-engaging means and constructed to break if the card is released.

With further reference to the drawing, there is illustrated one embodiment of the invention including a badge 10 having an interior portion 11, a border 12 and indicia 13. Such basic badge and its general method of manufacture is disclosed in my co-pending application executed of even date herewith.

On its rear side the badge has a pair of blocks or projections 15, 16. The blocks are formed unitarily with the plastic forming the border 12 and the backing, such plastic being flexible.

Mounted in the block 15 is a relatively thin needle 17, the needle being mounted in such a way that it normally extends upwardly with its point directly above the block 16, as indicated in FIG. 3. The block 16 has an overhanging catch 18, beneath which the point of the needle is secured, the flexibility of the block 15 and of the relatively thin needle 17 permitting easy disposition of the point beneath the catch. Due to the use of a relatively thin needle, the badge makes only a very small hole in fabrics to which it is attached and therefore is not damaging to thin or delicate apparel.

In order to further facilitate mounting of the needle, the block 16 may have a projecting portion from each side, as indicated in FIG. 5.

3,262,223 Patented July 26, 1966 The block 15, as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7, may be modified to have a reduced base portion, thereby increasing the flexibility of the mounting and facilitating attachment to a garment.

In manufacturing the basic badge, with reference to FIG. 2, a depression 22 may be formed adjacent to the lower edge, thereby providing an area for receiving a card holder 24, indicated in FIGS. 8-11. The card holder is formed from thin sheet metal and has a base portion 25 and a flap 26. The base portion 25 has a plurality of spaced apertures 27 which receive knobs or projections of the plastic at 28 as the badge is molded, thereby mounting the holder on its rear face. The sides of the base are mounted on the rear surface of the badge, with its central portion over the depression 22.

The base of the card holder has spaced apertures 29, 30, 31 adapted to receive correspondingly spaced projections 32, 33, 34, respectively, on the flap 26 when the latter is in closed position. Such projections extend through a card 35 and into the apertures, overlying the depression 22, thereby aflixing the card and mounting it on the badge.

The flap is attached to the base by side hinge portions 36, 37 spaced by slots 38, the hinge portions preferably being scored in order that the flap will break off at the hinge if it is attempted to be reclosed after it has once been closed and opened. Thus, the badge will not permit the substitution of a card in place of that originally mounted thereon. The card may bear information such as the identify of the person to whom it is issued. In order to simplify registration, the card may be in two or more parts and have a lower portion detachable for purposes of filing and bookkeeping.

Accordingly, it will be seen that the medallion includes a plastic badge having a relatively thin needle biased away from its clasp, the support therefor permitting both lateral and vertical motion, the badge having a holder for an identification card or the like, such holder permitting insertion of a card and preventing the substitution of another card.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A badge, comprising a molded plastic body having spaced first and second projections on its rear side, a relatively thin needle, said needle having one end mounted in the first of said projections, said first projection being flexible and permitting motion of said needle both laterally and toward and away from said second projection, said second projection having a clasp for receiving the point of said needle.

2. The invention of claim 1, said second projection having a clasp at each of its sides, thereby permitting engagement of the point of said needle from each side.

3. The invention of claim 1, said first projection having a relatively narrow base connection with the back of said badge, thereby increasing the flexibility of movement of said needle.

4. The invention of claim 1, said needle being mounted on one side of said badge, said badge having a depression at its other side and a card holder mounted over said depression, said card holder being formed of thin sheet metal and having a base and a flap, said base being engaged by said plastic to attach said base to the back of said badge, said base having spaced aperture means, said flap having correspondingly spaced projection means adapted to engage said aperture means when said flap overlies and is contiguous to said base, said flap being connected to said base by hinge means, said hinge means being weakened, whereby said flap will more easily break from said base at said hinge as a result of operation of said hinge.

5. The invention of claim 1, said needle being mounted at one side of said badge, said badge having a depression at its other side, and a card holder, said card holder having a base and a flap, said base mounted on the badge with a portion thereof overlying said depression, said base having aperture means in said portion, said flap having projection means spaced to engage said aperture means when said flap overlies and is contiguous to said base, said projection means extending through said base and into said depression.

6. A badge comprising a body, attaching means mounted on said body, and a card holder mounted on said body, said card holder being mounted on said body at a position remote from said attaching means, said card holder having a base and a fiap, said body having a de- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 766,993 8/1904 Frank 4025 1,332,421 3/1920 Bogardus 402 1,723,011 8/1929 Busco 4023 1,796,365 3/1931 Goudie 4023 2,611,981 9/1952 Whitebread 40--l28 X EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

WENCELSO J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BADGE, COMPRISING A MOLDED PLASTIC BODY HAVING SPACED FIRST AND SECOND PROJECTIONS ON ITS REAR SIDE, A RELATIVELY THIN NEEDLE, SAID NEEDLE HAVING ONE END MOUNTED IN THE FIRST OF SAID PROJECTIONS, SAID FIRST PROJECTION BEING FLEXIBLE AND PERMITTING MOTION OF SAID NEEDLE BOTH LATERALLY AND TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SECOND PROJECTION, SAID SECOND PROJECTION HAVING A CLASP FOR RECEIVING THE POINT OF SAID NEEDLE. 